Just got my copy of HT magazine. In their annual review of products, they list the PS3 as the "PRODUCT OF THE YEAR."

Direct quotes: "Easily the product of the year." :)

"Blu Ray playback is quick and beautiful, and apparently it also plays video games."

"...ultimate convergence product, acting as a central hub for your content and entire home theater."

I couldn't believe it considering how HD-DVD biased HT appears to be.

I love my PS3, but I really don't think it is product of the year... its great at folding though!!!

I love my PS3, but I really don't think it is product of the year... its great at folding though!!!

So tell us what Home Theatre product you'd give it to?

Definitely the product of the year
1. Cheapest Blu-Ray player
2. Next-gen Video game console
3. All-in-one
Not to mention all the features in the PS3
Who cares if it looks like a Foreman Grill lol
PS3 got my vote.

For all the things the PS3 can do, and it does them well, I'd agree with HT mag.

It's certainly a top condender IMO...that's why I bought two.

For all the things the PS3 can do, and it does them well, I'd agree with HT mag.

Same here. I really can't think of anything else to contend with it for that title. :D

"...ultimate convergence product, acting as a central hub for your content and entire home theater."

Total lack of network streaming and narrow video/audio codec support. If it improved here with a nice GUI even via Linux - then yeah, it would have full votes from me (I'd gladly even let 1080i slide). That said, the guy who said this obviously has no clue with what is really going on in terms of getting content into home theaters and audio systems. Carting around USB drives ain't it.

I would have to say PS3 too, but only because it plays blu-ray, ps2/3 games, and is comparatively inexpensive.

The other "features" need a ton of work as Chris mentioned.

The fact that you still cannot create folders to manually organize your media on the PS3's internal HDD still boggles my mind. I will buy one once I can add folders. I have WAY too many video/audio/photo files to not be able to manually sort them with my own user-created folders.

The PS3 isn't perfect but does that disqualify it as the Product of the Year or at least a legitimate choice?

The PS3 isn't perfect but does that disqualify it as the Product of the Year or at least a legitimate choice?

Then you can disqualify every Consumer Electronics product ever made if so.

isn't home theater magazine the same magazine that hammered the ps3 in a 4 way blu ray shootout? am i supposed to take this award seriously in the face of that???

isn't home theater magazine the same magazine that hammered the ps3 in a 4 way blu ray shootout? am i supposed to take this award seriously in the face of that???


Heh...you take awards seriously? :D

Apparently they got an HDMI capable receiver, so now the PS3 is awesome.

Name one product that edges out the ps3 as being the top? The ps3 is a beautiful beast when it comes to hardware...

Wow....this is awesome news for Sony :)

Very cool :) :)

Just got my copy of HT magazine. In their annual review of products, they list the PS3 as the "PRODUCT OF THE YEAR."

Direct quotes: "...ultimate convergence product, acting as a central hub for your content and entire home theater."


That's cool. They must have found the secret PS3 that has been updated allowing it to serve as a "hub" for the entire home theater.

[/sarcasm]

That's cool. They must have found the secret PS3 that has been updated allowing it to serve as a "hub" for the entire home theater.

[/sarcasm]

No doubt there are definately things that can be improved as there are things that it can't do, but the PS3 is an amazing product when you consider everything it CAN DO.

Media Playback, High Definition

- Seamless playback of HD content, (self authored, recorded via IEEE 1394 firewire from comcast cable box, internet downloads,etc.) on multiple media formats (USB thumb drive, external hard drive, saved to devices onboard hard drive, or DVD disc). The files have to be in the right format but you're not going to see this feature in a comparable device. You are getting a HD DVR here in addition to the other features. HD is wipping on the cake, but you can also play back SD as well.

-Plays Music and allows one to view pictures. Really nice.

Game Playing

-Playback of High defintion games, and backwards compatibility with PS 1 and PS 2 games. FREE Online gaming, and downloads/demos.

-Futuristic motion sensitive Six Axis controller. Blazing Angels is really cool for this and F1 Formula racing. I feel like I flying the plane or driving the race car!

Blu-Ray Player. Cheapest high quality player out there.

-It doesn't appear that Blu-Ray will go the way of the BetaMax with the popularity of the PS3.

Web browser

-After you get tiered of playing games you can go online and order another one, or check your email.

Add ons: Blue tooth Remote control. [Will never be able to use with a universal remote, but its something]. Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse for web brousing.

All of this and possibilities for upgraded in the future. This is a really nice device that can be hours of fun for everyone.

Sure there are some finer points that everyone would like to see:
-Folders for organizing media
-Customizable Backgrounds
-More video formats supported
-A little better web browser
-Streaming of media directly from PC
-Ability to record the High definition content directly to the PS3 hard drive instead of to the PC.
- phone caller ID that shows the number on the TV screen when someone calls.

But because some of the capabilities are there in the first place, it leaves people wanting more.

This is a great choice for product of the year.

I love my PS3, but I really don't think it is product of the year... its great at folding though!!!






WHATS FOLDING? :o

WHATS FOLDING? :o

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=823424&page=1

It may BECOME a media hub but files need to be greater than 4gig in size and be available over the network. It is hopelessly crippled as a media player. I love the box and play games and blurays on it. But they need to enable content browsing from xmb or a custom game app that is really a media center .

Name one product that edges out the ps3 as being the top? The ps3 is a beautiful beast when it comes to hardware...


i cannot. it is the hardware of the year. but that doesn't change the fact that this ridiculous magazine just one or two issues ago bashed (VERY unfairly) the very same ps3 they are now lavishing with praise. they have zero credibility in my book

It's a case of another 45-year old reviewer to make him and his publication look young and hip, when instead they just look dumb stating features that it doesn't have. The statement that it contains the ability for convergence being central to that stupidity.

That said, it really is the first time that a next-gen DVD player is onboard with a beast of a machine. They should focus on that instead of throwing out all this other crap to support convergence predictions they had ten years ago.

Total lack of network streaming and narrow video/audio codec support. If it improved here with a nice GUI even via Linux - then yeah, it would have full votes from me (I'd gladly even let 1080i slide). That said, the guy who said this obviously has no clue with what is really going on in terms of getting content into home theaters and audio systems. Carting around USB drives ain't it.


I get to stream HD video off my PC already to the Ps3 using Linux.. The Ps3 is a total package with all the bells and whistles.. I already upgraded the HD to 160GB since I bought the 20GB model..The best purchase of any Home Entertainment equipment I've ever done. It definately deserves to be the top HT product of the year... Ohh, and did I mention it plays Blu-Ray's at 1.5x speed with uncompressed audio at the same time? ;) Impressive indeed...

Don't forget that they gave the PS3 a "95" rating in their initial review two months ago (if memory serves me correctly). Listing a fault or two in the shoot-out last issue doesn't automatically disqualify it.

I get to stream HD video off my PC already to the Ps3 using Linux.. The Ps3 is a total package with all the bells and whistles.. I already upgraded the HD to 160GB since I bought the 20GB model..
You have HD media playback working well in Linux? Is there a good reliable walkthrough for Linux neophytes that could help us attain the same functionality.

You have HD media playback working well in Linux? Is there a good reliable walkthrough for Linux neophytes that could help us attain the same functionality.

This link below is one way to get this to work. In order to get HD 720p to work, after installing everything below, you have to have the proper codecs in place to get HD 720p to work, and it doesn't work yet all the time properly. I'm sure someone will get it working 100% efficient in the next few months. 1080p doesn't work for me or anyone else as far as I know.

http://www.ps3forums.com/archive/index.php/t-53776.html

This is assuming your pc is running xp. Also your PS3 should be hard wired to your LAN

Step 1. Getting VLC Player installed onto the PS3, including all dependencies.

Thanks for the repos from pacific808, download the zip file here and use archive manager (default) to extract it to /etc/yum.repos.d . Youll need to set the directory as it will try to download to the desktop.

http://users.xplornet.com/%7Eooley/therepos.zip

now open a gnome teminal and type

"yum update"

this will update your repositories.

Once its completed we will install VLC player simply by typing

"yum install videolan-client"

into the gnome terminal. This will install a version 0.8.5 ppc of VLC player and its dependencies

Try opening a few local files in VLC to make sure its working

Step 2. To stream we first need to create a shared folder on our PCs.

On the PC go to your folder or drive you wanna share. FOr instace say you have a folder called VIDEOS on your pc, highlight and right click and select sharing and security. Click the box to share this folder and give it a share name. For this example we will call it PCVIDS.

Give it a few secs to change and you will see the folder icon change to show a hand underneath it. Now you need to know what the name of your computer is called. You can do this by rightclicking my computer. For my examples mine is called YOUBEAUTY. So now we have the servername of YOUBEAUTY and the sharefolder name of PCVIDS

Step 3 Getting the PS3 to show the files ( they wont play for now though)

1. Click the Folder Icon in your YDL Shelf to Open Nautilus.
2. Go to File > Connect to Server..
3. A box will open up.
Click the drop down box and select WINDOWS SHARE
add the following based on your settings you made on your pc.

SERVER: youbeauty (change for your own pc name)
SHARE: PCVIDS (change to the name you gave your shared folder)
NAME TO USE FOR CONNECTION: PCVIDEOSHARE (change this to anything you want as it will show on your ps3 to remember the shared folder on your pc)

the rest you can leave blank

Then click CONNECT at bottom right

See first image below in attachments

4. The folder name PCVIDEOSHARE ( or whatever you called it) will now show up on the left side of nautilus under PLACES. If you double click this now you should see your folders/files available on your pc shared folder that you made.

If you got this far were nearly there. This is where i got stuck for ages as i could see the files etc and could copy them but i couldnt get vlc or mplayer to play them from here no matter what i did. This is all down to the nautilus configuration and we need to change it to allow up to play these files. This will be the next and final part of the tutorial.

Step 4. Allowing direct playback of your shared files from your PC via the Nautilus File Manager.

1. Go to Software Management > Add Remove Software via your Blue YDL Applications. Once it has retrieved your information click the SEARCH BOX and enter "nautilus" in the search box without quotations. Have All packages selected then click SEARCH.

2. When its done searching look for the file named nautilus-actions-1.4-3.fc5.1.ppc . Tick the box and select APPLY. This wil install the application.

3. Open a Gnome terminal in user mode (not root) and type

nautilus-actions-config

A box will appear. Click ADD
We will now set up VLC to play over the network. You can do the same with mplayer just change the PATH it resides in.

Under the MENU ITEM & ACTION TAB type

Label: USE VLCPLAYER
PATH: /usr/bin/vlc
Parameters: %u

Now click the ADVANCED CONDITIONS Tab ( this is the important bit as it allows the files to play over the network)

TICK the smb Windows Files box

Now click the OK box at the bottom right

Then either add another one for mplayer or click CLOSE

We need to reset nautilus to affect the changes so go into the Gnome terminal again and type

nautilus -q

OK thats us done

Now all we need to do is browse to our files on the network drives and right click on the file name. Near the bottom it will say USE VLCPLAYER. Click that and it will play as if it were on your ps3 drive.

Now you can play all your file types and keep your ps3 drive from getting full. This is particularly useful for files >4GB in size ie High Def TS files, as they can reside on your PCs NTFS drive as they wont fit on your PS3s drive or external FAT32 drives

Thanks for all the info Supermans!

Supermans,

I was going to try this, but never had the guts! Will this do anything to destroy the way the PS3 looks now? Meaning will it only give you the ability to stream files off your PC?

If this doesn't work can it be uninstalled and the original setup restored?

Supermans,

What does this mean?

This link below is one way to get this to work. In order to get HD 720p to work, after installing everything below, you have to have the proper codecs in place to get HD 720p to work, and it doesn't work yet all the time properly. I'm sure someone will get it working 100% efficient in the next few months.

If I could get it to work this will make my machine block buster!

When you are looking through your video files, do you see the motion thumb nail graphics? How about music and pictures, can you acess them as well?

Don't forget that they gave the PS3 a "95" rating in their initial review two months ago (if memory serves me correctly). Listing a fault or two in the shoot-out last issue doesn't automatically disqualify it.


but that's not what happened. they dismissed the ps3 and chose the others over it. would that not make the other products "product of the year"?

i cannot. it is the hardware of the year. but that doesn't change the fact that this ridiculous magazine just one or two issues ago bashed (VERY unfairly) the very same ps3 they are now lavishing with praise. they have zero credibility in my book

Now I don't have the Home Theater Magazine you speak of right at my fingers as I lent it out to a neighbor, but if my memory serves me correctly, they didn't bash the PS3 as a whole. They pointed out some weaknesses of it being a stand alone Blu-Ray player (Separate Analog outs come to mind and it's reliance on HDMI only to do lossless audio and all the neat sound and lack of upconversion). The reviewer even said if it weren't for some of these omissions that the PS3 would easily be one of the best stand alone Blu-Ray players. They did speak positively of the PS3 and what it did right.

Now that being said, for it to win "Product of the Year" does seem to make sense. I haven't got my magazine yet (damn Canada Post) but from what I read in this thread indicates that they looked at it more then just a stand alone Blu-Ray player. It has more then one function, and although not perfect, it does get the job done.

I am a gamer and an electronics nut, and I think the PS3 is a great designed machine. There is alot of features and alot of horsepower in the black sleek looking box, especially given the price.

And as bias or ridiculous you think Home Theater magazine is, it usually consists of a lot of good information. To give a multifunction product of this nature Product of the Year is pretty cool and I don't see anything wrong with it.

Cheers,

Outtie

Supermans,

What does this mean?

This link below is one way to get this to work. In order to get HD 720p to work, after installing everything below, you have to have the proper codecs in place to get HD 720p to work, and it doesn't work yet all the time properly. I'm sure someone will get it working 100% efficient in the next few months.

If I could get it to work this will make my machine block buster!

When you are looking through your video files, do you see the motion thumb nail graphics? How about music and pictures, can you acess them as well?

Linux requires a lot of learning since it is not similar to windows at all. Remember this installation has nothing to do with the current XMB so there is no motion video clips playing or anything like that. It is a basic file structure that looks like any other Linux desktop. If you are unfamiliar with Linux, you do need to get other steps to get it installed on your PS3 first before doing what I posted... There are plenty of online tutorials how to simply get Linux installed on the PS3 and then you can follow the steps for getting VLC player to work.

Again what I posted is not a guide to getting Linux installed but to get streaming to work within Linux. And yes, you can restore your PS3 to factory specs very easily if you don't like Linux after installing it. Before you do any of this, you have to backup your current configuration using a FAT32 external USB drive which is very easy to do. Then you have to follow some steps and create a partition on the PS3 drive.. You want to download Yellow Dog Linux made for the PS3 which is built on the Fedora core and you can run programs created for Fedora like open office. I posted some links with instruction video's etc.. There are many more online from numerous people...

PS3 Linux - The void has been filled..Full install instructions for Fedora Core 5!

http://ps3.qj.net/PS3-Linux-The-void-has-been-filled-Full-install-instructions-for-Fedora-Core-5-/pg/49/aid/73144

http://www.playstation.com/ps3-openplatform/index.html

ftp://ftp.uk.linux.org/pub/linux/Sony-PS3/

http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/11/17/1327239
"Sony updated their Open Platform website needed to install PPC Linux on the PS3. The FTP Site contains the CELL Linux ADDON CD image, which has the bootloader (kboot/otheros.bld) and instructions needed to install Fedora Core 5, PPC. A full install from DVD takes about two hours. Most all hardware is supported except for graphics accelerator support (framebuffer only, up to 1920x1200)."

Here is a u-tube video of a guy starting up the fedora GUI..This person explains the GUI very well...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZXcuhJkwx4

Marvel Vs Capcom for MAME on PS3 linux

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsQOr-vNDsg&mode=related&search=

More PS3 linux install video's bellow

http://fatpenguinblog.com/?p=798

Outcast: I wouldn't hold your breath for the article. They have a list and one paragraph about each item.

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR:

Sony Playstation 3
(Reviewed Online)
"Not only do the hopes and dreams of an enitre format rest on its shoulders, but the PlayStation 3 is also the ultimate convergence product, acting as a central hub for your content and your entire home theater. Blu-ray playback is quick and beautiful, and apparently it also plays video games. Easily the product of the year. "

That's it. The rest is evidently online.


Two months ago, HT initially reviewed the PS3 and gave it glowing reviews and it scored a 95. Last month they had a "Blu Ray shootout" and did say the audio issue was a problem, but they certainly didn't can it. You're 100% correct.

Talbain, similar to Autotrend's "Car of the Year" award, you can compare the Toyota Camary to a $95,000 BMW. Just because the BMW goes faster, has a better interior etc.... doesn't mean it is a better value and deserves "Car of the Year."